The Phoenix Open (branded as the WM Phoenix Open for sponsorship reasons)[1] is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held in early February at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.

WM Phoenix Open
Tournament information
LocationScottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Established1932
Course(s)TPC Scottsdale
Par71
Length7,261 yards (6,639 m)
Organized byThe Thunderbirds
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$8,800,000
Month playedFebruary
Tournament record score
Aggregate256 Mark Calcavecchia (2001)
256 Phil Mickelson (2013)
To par−28 as above
Current champion
Canada Nick Taylor
Location map
TPC Scottsdale is located in the United States
TPC Scottsdale
TPC Scottsdale
Location in the United States
TPC Scottsdale is located in Arizona
TPC Scottsdale
TPC Scottsdale
Location in Arizona

The tournament was originally the Arizona Open but was known for most of its history as the Phoenix Open until the investment bank Friedman Billings Ramsey became the title sponsor in October 2003. For the next six editions, it was known as the FBR Open. Waste Management, Inc. began its sponsorship in 2010.

The event's relaxed atmosphere, raucous by professional golf standards, has earned it the nickname "The Greatest Show on Grass" and made it one of the most popular events on the PGA Tour calendar.

History

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The Phoenix Open began 92 years ago in 1932 but was discontinued after the 1935 tournament. The rebirth of the Phoenix Open came in 1939 when Bob Goldwater Sr. convinced fellow Thunderbirds to help run the event. The Thunderbirds, a prominent civic organization in Phoenix, were less enthusiastic about running the event than he was, leaving Goldwater Sr. to do most of the work in getting a golf open started.

The event was played at the Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix (33°29′N 112°04′W / 33.48°N 112.06°W / 33.48; -112.06),[2] both in its earlier incarnations and after Goldwater resuscitated it. Beginning in 1955, the Arizona Country Club (also in Phoenix) (33°29′N 111°58′W / 33.49°N 111.96°W / 33.49; -111.96),[3] alternated as event host with Phoenix Country Club; this arrangement lasted until Phoenix Country Club took The Arizona Country Club's turn in 1975 and became the event's permanent home again.

The tournament moved 37 years ago in 1987 to its current home, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, northeast of downtown Phoenix. The approximate average elevation of the course is 1,530 feet (465 m) above sea level.

The purse was $8.2 million in 2022, then increased over 140% to $20 million for 2023, with a winner's share of $3.6 million.

 
Logo from 2010 to 2020

Popularity

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The five-day attendance of the tournament is usually around a half million, the best-attended event in golf. In 2016, it set a PGA Tour and Phoenix Open single-day attendance record with 201,003 fans on Saturday, February 6, and a tournament week attendance record of 618,365 fans.[4]

The most popular location for spectators is the par-3 16th hole, nicknamed "The Coliseum." (33°38′N 111°55′W / 33.64°N 111.91°W / 33.64; -111.91) One of the shortest holes on tour at 162 yards (148 m), it is enclosed by a temporary 20,000-seat grandstand. The hole could be described as "one big party," with many students from the nearby Arizona State University in Tempe in attendance. Poor shots at the 16th hole receive boos because the hole is straightforward by the PGA's standards. Good shots, however, are cheered loudly. Players who make holes in one at the 16th will cause the gallery to erupt, leading to beverages and other objects being tossed in celebrations; Tiger Woods (1997),[5] Jarrod Lyle (2011), and Sam Ryder (2022) have each aced the hole on Saturday, creating raucous celebrations at the hole.[6] The anger of a poor shot can lead to tempers flaring, as Justin Leonard gave obscene gestures to the gallery after a poor shot one year. After 2013, the PGA Tour banned the practice of caddies racing the 150 yards (140 m) from the tee box to the green, citing injury concerns.[7]

Former Arizona State players are very popular at the Phoenix Open, with many often wearing a Pat Tillman jersey when entering the 16th-hole stadium. Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm are popular there for that reason. In addition to golf, there is a concert/party held in the Scottsdale area called the Birds Nest, at which music artists like Huey Lewis and the News play.

The Thunderbirds are still highly active in organizing the tournament. The Thunderbirds use portions of the proceeds to fund Special Olympics activities in Phoenix.

Conflicts with the Super Bowl

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Since 1973,[8] the Phoenix Open has been played on the weekend of the Super Bowl. In 1976, coverage of the tournament's final round was joined in progress immediately after CBS's coverage of Super Bowl X.[9] In 1996, it was played Wednesday through Saturday, as Super Bowl XXX was held at Sun Devil Stadium in nearby Tempe.[10] In 2009, the tournament overlapped with Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida, when Kenny Perry and Charley Hoffman went to a playoff. That denied the spectators a chance to watch the beginning of the game on NBC, which featured the local Arizona Cardinals.

Because of the Super Bowl weekend status, the PGA Tour's television contracts with CBS and NBC include an alternating tournament. Usually, a CBS tournament occurs when NBC or FOX televises the Super Bowl, the Phoenix Open airs on NBC when CBS has the Super Bowl, and NBC's Honda Classic aired on CBS during the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Highlights

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  • 1949: Ben Hogan loses in a playoff; driving home with his wife; he is involved in a near-fatal accident.[11]
  • 1987: Paul Azinger wins the first edition of the Phoenix Open held at TPC Scottsdale.
  • 1990: Tom Pernice Jr. makes the first double eagle in tournament history on the par-5 15th hole.
  • 1996: Grant Waite sets the course record of 60 (−11). Phil Mickelson, an alumnus of nearby Arizona State University, wins the tournament for the first time.
  • 1997: Tiger Woods aces the par-3 16th hole in the third round on Saturday.
  • 2000: Andrew Magee makes the first ace on a par-4 in PGA Tour history on the par-4 17th hole.
  • 2001: Mark Calcavecchia sets the tournament record for lowest aggregate score with 256 (−28), including a course record-tying 60 (−11) in the second round.
  • 2011: Jarrod Lyle aces the par-3 16th hole in the first round.
  • 2019: Amy Bockerstette, a golfer with Down syndrome, pars the par-3 16th hole during the pro-am in front of Gary Woodland, a moment that went viral on social media.
  • 2020: Woodland and Bockerstette reunite one year after their viral moment with a $25,000 contribution to the I Got This! Foundation, launched the previous year.
  • 2022: Sam Ryder aces on the par-3 16th hole during the third round on Saturday.

Records

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The 17th hole during the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The tournament's lowest 72-hole score was set by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001 with 256 (–28), which was matched by Mickelson in 2013. In the second round Calcavecchia scored a 60 (–11), which equalled the lowest score at the Phoenix Open (by Grant Waite in 1996) and subsequently matched by Mickelson in 2005 and 2013. Calcavecchia had 32 birdies in the tournament, which was also an all-time record.

There have been only two double eagles in the history of the Phoenix Open. Tom Pernice Jr. made the first one on the 558-yard (510 m) par-5 15th hole in 1990. Andrew Magee scored the second on the 332-yard (304 m) par-4 17th hole in 2001, and was the first-ever ace on a par-4 in PGA Tour history.[12]

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
($)
Winner's
share ($)
WM Phoenix Open
2024   Nick Taylor 263 −21 Playoff   Charley Hoffman 8,800,000 1,584,000
2023   Scottie Scheffler (2) 265 −19 2 strokes   Nick Taylor 20,000,000 3,600,000
2022   Scottie Scheffler 268 −16 Playoff   Patrick Cantlay 8,200,000 1,476,000
Waste Management Phoenix Open
2021   Brooks Koepka (2) 265 −19 1 stroke   Lee Kyoung-hoon
  Xander Schauffele
7,300,000 1,314,000
2020   Webb Simpson 267 −17 Playoff   Tony Finau 7,300,000 1,314,000
2019   Rickie Fowler 267 −17 2 strokes   Branden Grace 7,100,000 1,278,000
2018   Gary Woodland 266 −18 Playoff   Chez Reavie 6,900,000 1,242,000
2017   Hideki Matsuyama (2) 267 −17 Playoff   Webb Simpson 6,700,000 1,206,000
2016   Hideki Matsuyama 270 −14 Playoff   Rickie Fowler 6,500,000 1,170,000
2015   Brooks Koepka 269 −15 1 stroke   Hideki Matsuyama
  Ryan Palmer
  Bubba Watson
6,300,000 1,134,000
2014   Kevin Stadler 268 −16 1 stroke   Graham DeLaet
  Bubba Watson
6,200,000 1,116,000
2013   Phil Mickelson (3) 256 −28 4 strokes   Brandt Snedeker 6,200,000 1,116,000
2012   Kyle Stanley 269 −15 1 stroke   Ben Crane 6,100,000 1,098,000
2011   Mark Wilson 266 −18 Playoff   Jason Dufner 6,100,000 1,098,000
2010   Hunter Mahan 268 −16 1 stroke   Rickie Fowler 6,000,000 1,080,000
FBR Open
2009   Kenny Perry 270 −14 Playoff   Charley Hoffman 6,000,000 1,080,000
2008   J. B. Holmes (2) 270 −14 Playoff   Phil Mickelson 6,000,000 1,080,000
2007   Aaron Baddeley 263 −21 1 stroke   John Rollins 6,000,000 1,080,000
2006   J. B. Holmes 263 −21 7 strokes   J. J. Henry
  Steve Lowery
  Ryan Palmer
  Scott Verplank
  Camilo Villegas
5,200,000 936,000
2005   Phil Mickelson (2) 267 −17 5 strokes   Scott McCarron
  Kevin Na
5,200,000 936,000
2004   Jonathan Kaye 266 −18 2 strokes   Chris DiMarco 5,200,000 936,000
Phoenix Open
2003   Vijay Singh (2) 261 −23 3 strokes   John Huston 4,000,000 720,000
2002   Chris DiMarco 267 −17 1 stroke   Kenny Perry
  Kaname Yokoo
4,000,000 720,000
2001   Mark Calcavecchia (3) 256 −28 8 strokes   Rocco Mediate 4,000,000 720,000
2000   Tom Lehman 270 −14 1 stroke   Robert Allenby
  Rocco Mediate
3,200,000 576,000
1999   Rocco Mediate 273 −11 2 strokes   Justin Leonard 3,000,000 540,000
1998   Jesper Parnevik 269 −15 3 strokes   Tommy Armour III
  Brent Geiberger
  Steve Pate
  Tom Watson
2,500,000 450,000
1997   Steve Jones 258 −26 11 strokes   Jesper Parnevik 1,500,000 270,000
1996   Phil Mickelson 269 −15 Playoff   Justin Leonard 1,300,000 234,000
1995   Vijay Singh 269 −15 Playoff   Billy Mayfair 1,300,000 234,000
1994   Bill Glasson 268 −16 3 strokes   Bob Estes 1,200,000 216,000
1993   Lee Janzen 273 −11 2 strokes   Andrew Magee 1,000,000 180,000
1992   Mark Calcavecchia (2) 264 −20 5 strokes   Duffy Waldorf 1,000,000 180,000
1991   Nolan Henke 268 −16 1 stroke   Gil Morgan
  Curtis Strange
  Tom Watson
1,000,000 180,000
1990   Tommy Armour III 267 −17 5 strokes   Jim Thorpe 900,000 162,000
1989   Mark Calcavecchia 263 −21 7 strokes   Chip Beck 700,000 126,000
1988   Sandy Lyle 269 −15 Playoff   Fred Couples 650,000 117,000
1987   Paul Azinger 268 −16 1 stroke   Hal Sutton 600,000 108,000
1986   Hal Sutton 267 −17 2 strokes   Calvin Peete
  Tony Sills
500,000 90,000
1985   Calvin Peete 270 −14 2 strokes   Morris Hatalsky
  Doug Tewell
450,000 81,000
1984   Tom Purtzer 268 −16 1 stroke   Corey Pavin 400,000 72,000
1983   Bob Gilder (2) 271 −13 Playoff   Rex Caldwell
  Johnny Miller
  Mark O'Meara
350,000 63,000
1982   Lanny Wadkins 263 −21 6 strokes   Jerry Pate 300,000 54,000
1981   David Graham 268 −16 1 stroke   Lon Hinkle 300,000 54,000
1980   Jeff Mitchell 272 −12 4 strokes   Rik Massengale 300,000 54,000
1979   Ben Crenshaw 199[a] −14 1 stroke   Jay Haas 250,000 33,750
1978   Miller Barber 272 −12 1 stroke   Jerry Pate
  Lee Trevino
200,000 40,000
1977   Jerry Pate 277 −7 Playoff   Dave Stockton 200,000 40,000
1976   Bob Gilder 268 −16 2 strokes   Roger Maltbie 200,000 40,000
1975   Johnny Miller (2) 260 −24 14 strokes   Jerry Heard 150,000 30,000
1974   Johnny Miller 271 −13 1 stroke   Lanny Wadkins 150,000 30,000
1973   Bruce Crampton 268 −12 1 stroke   Steve Melnyk
  Lanny Wadkins
150,000 30,000
1972   Homero Blancas 273 −11 Playoff   Lanny Wadkins 125,000 25,000
Phoenix Open Invitational
1971   Miller Barber 261 −23 2 strokes   Billy Casper
  Dan Sikes
125,000 25,000
1970   Dale Douglass 271 −13 1 stroke   Howie Johnson
  Gene Littler
100,000 20,000
1969   Gene Littler (3) 263 −21 2 strokes   Miller Barber
  Don January
  Billy Maxwell
100,000 20,000
1968   George Knudson 272 −12 3 strokes   Julius Boros
  Sam Carmichael
  Jack Montgomery
100,000 20,000
1967   Julius Boros 272 −12 1 stroke   Ken Still 70,000 14,000
1966   Dudley Wysong 278 −6 1 stroke   Gardner Dickinson 60,000 9,000
1965   Rod Funseth 274 −14 3 strokes   Bert Yancey 65,000 10,500
1964   Jack Nicklaus 271 −13 3 strokes   Bob Brue 50,000 7,500
1963   Arnold Palmer (3) 273 −15 1 stroke   Gary Player 35,000 5,300
1962   Arnold Palmer (2) 269 −15 12 strokes   Billy Casper
  Don Fairfield
  Bob McCallister
  Jack Nicklaus
35,000 5,300
1961   Arnold Palmer 270 −10 Playoff   Doug Sanders 30,000 4,300
1960   Jack Fleck 273 −11 Playoff   Bill Collins 22,500 3,150
1959   Gene Littler (2) 268 −12 1 stroke   Art Wall Jr. 20,000 2,400
1958   Ken Venturi 274 −10 1 stroke   Walter Burkemo
  Jay Hebert
15,000 2,000
1957   Billy Casper 271 −9 3 strokes   Cary Middlecoff
  Mike Souchak
15,000 2,000
Phoenix Open
1956   Cary Middlecoff 276 −8 3 strokes   Mike Souchak 15,000 2,400
1955   Gene Littler 275 −5 1 stroke   Billy Maxwell
  Johnny Palmer
15,000 2,400
1954   Ed Furgol 272 −12 Playoff   Cary Middlecoff 10,000 2,000
1953   Lloyd Mangrum (2) 272 −12 6 strokes   Johnny Bulla
  Ted Kroll
  Bo Wininger
10,000 2,000
1952   Lloyd Mangrum 274 −10 5 strokes   Dutch Harrison 10,000 2,000
1951   Lew Worsham 272 −12 1 stroke   Lawson Little 10,000 2,000
Ben Hogan Open
1950   Jimmy Demaret (2) 269 −15 1 stroke   Sam Snead 10,000 2,000
Phoenix Open
1949   Jimmy Demaret 278 −6 Playoff   Ben Hogan 10,000 2,000
1948   Bobby Locke 268 −16 1 stroke   Jimmy Demaret 10,000 2,000
1947   Ben Hogan (2) 270 −14 7 strokes   Lloyd Mangrum
  Ed Oliver
10,000 2,000
1946   Ben Hogan 273 −11 Playoff   Herman Keiser 7,500 1,500
1945   Byron Nelson (2) 274 −10 2 strokes   Denny Shute 5,000 1,000
1944   Jug McSpaden 273 −11 Playoff   Byron Nelson 5,000 1,000
1941–1943: No tournament
1940   Ed Oliver 205 −8 1 stroke   Ben Hogan 3,000 700
1939   Byron Nelson 198 −15 12 strokes   Ben Hogan 3,000 700
1936–1938: No tournament
1935   Ky Laffoon 281 −3 4 strokes   Craig Wood 2,500 500
1934 No tournament
Arizona Open
1933   Harry Cooper 281 −3 2 strokes   Ray Mangrum
  Horton Smith
1,500 400
1932   Ralph Guldahl 285 −1 5 strokes   John Perelli 2,500 600

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[13][14][15]

Notes

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  1. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

References

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  1. ^ "Waste Management to sponsor Phoenix Open". PGA Tour. December 9, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  2. ^ "Golf". Phoenix Country Club. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  3. ^ "Golf". Arizona Country Club. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. ^ "Waste Management Phoenix Open attendance records". AZ Central. February 7, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jones maintains Phoenix lead; Woods records ace on No. 16". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). January 26, 1997. p. 6B.
  6. ^ "Watch: Sam Ryder makes an ace on 16 at WM Phoenix Open, coliseum nearly explodes and beer cans come raining down". Golfweek. February 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "PGA Tour Bans Popular Caddie Races at TPC Scottsdale, Colonial | Golf Channel". www.golfchannel.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Crampton's birdie nets Phoenix win". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. January 15, 1973. p. 16.
  9. ^ "NBC's Post-Super Bowl LVI Show Will Be the Winter Olympics". ca.movies.yahoo.com. November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "Mickelson grinds out another win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 28, 1996. p. 3F.
  11. ^ Schwartz, Larry. "Hogan majored in courage". ESPN.
  12. ^ Kelley, Brent. "The Amazing Story of the Only Par-4 Hole-in-One in PGA Tour History". thoughtco.com. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  13. ^ 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open Media Guide – Section 14: Top Finishers 1932–2014 – at wmphoenixopen.com
  14. ^ Phoenix Open – Winners Archived 2014-06-01 at the Wayback Machine – at www.pgatour.com
  15. ^ Phoenix Open – Winners – at golfobserver.com
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